Table 1.

Dietary sodium intake guidelines for patients with heart failure

Organization	Recommendation	Level of evidence
American Dietetic Association [11•]	Sodium intake should be less than 2 g/day. Sodium restriction will improve symptoms (i.e. edema, fatigue) and quality of life.	Fair. Committee believed benefits outweigh harm, but quality of evidence is limited
American College of Cardiology Foundation/ American Heart Association [9]	Sodium restriction is reasonable for patients with symptomatic heart failure to reduce congestive symptoms.	Level C. Very limited populations studied. Only consensus opinion of experts, case studies, or standard of care
European Heart Failure Society [8]	Sodium restriction may help control the symptoms and signs of congestion in patients with symptomatic heart failure classes III and IV.	No level. Committee considered evidence insufficient to be leveled
Heart Failure Society of America [10]	Dietary sodium restriction (2–3 g daily) is recommended for patients with the clinical syndrome of heart failure and preserved or depressed left ventricular ejection fraction.	Level C. Expert Opinion. Observational studies-epidemiologic findings; safety reporting from large- scale use in practice